2773

❧✿❧

a ruffle of drapes -

sound of windchimes

they tinkle sweetly

The night before; in between a patter and splash of raindrops on the pavement, there arose an unusual wind. Which, not content to only ruffle Mrs. Anansi's pretty new drapes, she ruffles and weaves herself into the Anansi house, winding her way up the Anansi staircase, into the Anansi bedrooms, peering here, and peering there, until at last, reaching the room shared by Anansi and his charming wife. Here, this unusual gust, shapes herself into a giant windy hand, large enough to pick up an unsuspecting, Anansi, leaving behind, Mrs. Anansi asleep. [Excerpt from my book -  Anansi: An Unusual Experience]

BUY from online book stores

Anansi and The Twelve Days of Christmas

Anansi: An Unusual Experience 

What's Anansi Up To Now

by Gillena Cox  

 

❧✿❧

BLOG HOPPING TODAY WITH

Thursday Art Date: Hands

BON APPETIT

❧✿❧

ENJOY THE MUSIC: The Beatles - I Want To Hold Your Hand 

[animation from google]

A HAPPY AND BLESSED CORPUS CHRISTI TO ALL 

REVISIT
Corpus Christi 2017
Corpus Christi 2014
Corpus Christi 2012

The Twelve Days of Christmas 2011-12

opening image a photo taken at Lopino 2008

Hope YOU had A MERRY CHRISTMAS and WISHES FOR A BRIGHT AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR; This has been the FOURTH YEAR'S celebration OF
The 12 days of Christmas here at Lunch Break

The Anansy Story is an intrinsic icon in the oral tradition of Caribbean people and this year's celebration was done haibun style. All the prose (ie. story of) 'Anansi and The Twelve Days of Christmas' and also The Anansi image © gillena cox 2011

revisit The 2010/11 Celebration Finale here; Thank you for celebrating with me.

Many religious observers ascribe the 12 Drummers Drumming as symbolic for The twelve points of the Apostles' Creed; But now to end this story...

DAY TWELVE JANUARY 5RD 2012

Parang Parang Parang, Parang Parang Parang. that was what Anansi heard outside his window on awakening Christmas morning, that, and the sweet voice of his wife, Mrs Anansi down stairs singing; when he, Kwaku Anansi, opened his eyes, and yawned loudly, and stretched his spidery self. When he, Kwaku Anansi, jumped off his bed dancing wildly and shouting
"i'm at home, i'm at home";
and, when he, Kwaku Anansi paused for a while, to scratch his spidery head.
"But how could this be?
And there was the voice of Mrs Anansi fillng the Anansi home as
she sang the carol "on the twelfth day of Christmas, my love gave to meeee..twelve drummers drumming...eleven pipers piping...ten lords a-leaping...nine ladies dancing...eight maids a-milking...seven swans a-swimming...six geese a-laying... five gooold rings.........four colly birds...three french hens...two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear treeeeee"
Meanwhile all the way to church and back Anansi had driven carefully but his mind was full of thoughts;
"Was it really just a dream; but how could that be?"
And really i also do not know... may all your Christmases be special AND A BRIGHT AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR

--Meanwhile in Australia as reported by Comrade harps

we drive home
veer from our direction
and meet her at the hospital



--And in Trinidad and Tobago as reported by Keith Simmonds

toasting with glasses
of ginger beer and sorrel...
joyful neighbours

steel pans
belting out carols...
peace to all mankind



--And in Germany as reported by Ralf Bröker

lunch time
a pan full of
Nürnberger



--And in Serbia as reported by Tatjana Debeljacki

Christmas tree
whole family sitting together
drinking reiki

in round cake
We turn around three times
God help



--And in the USA as reported by Dian Mayr

the new year
grandma gives baby a pot
and a wooden spoon


Poems and images remain the copyright of the individual writers

Thanks to: Adelaide Shaw, Alex Serban, Cristina-Monica Moldoveanu, Comrade Harps, Dian Mayr, Gheorghe Postelnicu, Juhani Tikkanen, Keith Simmonds, Konrad Kusmirak, Lorraine Renaud, Magyar, Ralf Bröker and Tatjana Debeljacki

Thanks to all who visited but did not leave a comment, Thanks to all who e mailed or indicated their appreciation at Facebook

much love
gillena

Thus ends, The Twelve Days of Christmas, Dec 25th 2011 to Jan 5th 2012; right here at Lunch Break

1081

after midnight...
pouring "Santa" another
glass of milk
--Diane Mayr

Christmas tree
the language gets brighter
towards night
--Chris Dominiczak

half awake coo coo
of pigeons in the eaves
--gillena cox

between holidays
listening to carols
alone
-- Adelaide


...In between the patter and splash of raindrops on the pavement, there arose an unusual wind, which, not content to only ruffle Mrs Anansi's pretty new drapes, ruffled and wove herself into the Anansi house; winding her way up the Anansi staircase, into the Anansi bedrooms; peering here, and peering there, until at last, reaching the room shared by Anansi and his charming wife. Here, this unusual gust, shaped herself into a giant windy hand, large enough to pick up the unsuspecting, Anansi himself.... (continues tomorrow)
(story of) 'Anansi - An Unusual Experience' © gillena cox 2012

Anansi image © gillena cox 2011


Welcome to the FIFTH YEAR'S celebration of 'The 12 days of Christmas here at Lunch Break' Thank you for celebrating with me
Wishing the love and warmth of family and friends MERRY CHRISTMAS 2012
(story of) 'Anansi - An Unusual Experience' © gillena cox 2012


Lets do this; the 12 days of Christmas at Lunch Break Dec 25 to January 5th; join in the celebration email me or post a COMMENT


revisit 28 Dec 2011
Inspiration for this series The Twelve Days of Christmas Carol
more about Anansi

All poems and images remain the copyright of individual writers

1087

image from google

late Christmas card
call of a peacock
in the distance
--Kirsten Cliff

soft breath of God
whispers to my heart and soul
a Son is born today
--Pat Geyer

...Gently, gently, gently Anansi felt himself being landed; As Wind opened slightly the door of a stable, no one looked around, the door was opened so quietly. And there it was Anansi saw : oxen, donkey, sheep, cattle all lying in sweet hay, some munching, some not; and the same three unusually dressed men, presenting their gifts to... and this is when Anansi squealed with delight "baby Jesus and Mary and Joseph and shepheds". Anansi clapped his hands for joy and did a happy dance, but no one looked around, no one saw or heard Anansi; but everyone heard angels singing, Joy to the world let earth receive her King.... (continues tomorrow)
(story of) 'Anansi - An Unusual Experience' © gillena cox 2012

Anansi image © gillena cox 2011

A star twinkles on
a child in a manger …
the Prince of peace

a tiny Infant
from the humblest of abodes
peace and love to all
--Keith Simmonds


Welcome to the FIFTH YEAR'S celebration of 'The 12 days of Christmas here at Lunch Break' Thank you for celebrating with me
Wishing the love and warmth of family and friends MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

Christmas Eve
of long agos
I still cry
'O Holy night
--Lorraine

Lets do this; the 12 days of Christmas at Lunch Break Dec 25 to January 5th; join in the celebration email me or post a COMMENT


revisit 3 Jan 2012
Inspiration for this series The Twelve Days of Christmas Carol
more about Anansi

All poems and images remain the copyright of individual writers

The Twelve Days of Christmas 2011-12

reed pipes

The FOURTH YEAR'S celebration OF 'The 12 days of Christmas at Lunch Break'; continues, thanks for celebrating with me. All the prose (ie. story of) 'Anansi and The Twelve Days of Christmas' © gillena cox 2011

DAY ELEVEN JANUARY 4RD 2012

And Anansi,once again, found himself there in the rainforest; but somehow, he was back in Latin America; now his trek had taken him to Brazil, he sensed somehow he was near the coastline and he sighed from exhaustion; then suddenly he heard a wailing sound, as if someone was blowing a reed pipe; Anansi's strength surged, he dropped his back pack, and stood straight as a rod and listened, without daring one step which would be to much noise. He listened, the music seem to be approaching him, coming nearer and nearer until, there! ten wizened griots their pipes held at their lips and the saddest of strains left their instuments. Then he heard their voices, all ten griots speaking together at once
" Anansi! Kwaku Anansi! what nonsense is this, of going back to the African Continent? Man its Christmas; a time to be opening presents with your childen, a time to be eating ham and drinking sorrell with Mrs Anansi; a time for parang..." Anansi gulped, then he heard the sweet voice of Mrs Anansi singing
"on the eleventh day of Christmas, my love gave to meeee...eleven pipers piping...ten lords a-leaping...nine ladies dancing...eight maids a-milking...seven swans a-swimming...six geese a-laying... five gooold rings.........four colly birds...three french hens...two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear treeeeee"

--Meanwhile in Germany as reported by Ralf Bröker

on legs and hands
Daddy becomes
a donkey



--And in Trinidad and Tobago as reported by Keith Simmonds

groups of carolers
parading the streets
to spread the gospel



--And in Canada as reported by Lorraine Renaud

Wind throws him up
gently
to another patch

Many religious observers ascribe the 11 Pipers Piping as symbolic for The eleven faithful Apostles

more about The 12 days of Christmas
Listen to the song here

revisit The 2010/11 Celebration Finale here

Poems and images; remain the copyright of the individual contributors


To participate COMMENT or e-mail me


OTHER INTERESTING LINKS
Instruments of the Renaissance

The Twelve Days of Christmas 2011-12

--Lighted Up Christmas Tree by Turku Cathedral haiga -- from Juhani Tikkanen of Finland

The FOURTH YEAR'S celebration OF 'The 12 days of Christmas at Lunch Break'; continues, thanks for celebrating with me
All the prose (ie. story of) 'Anansi and The Twelve Days of Christmas' © gillena cox 2011

DAY TEN JANUARY 3RD 2012

Above Mrs Anansi singing, Anansi said
"we're here"
as he parked the car in the church yard; the children - boy and girl Anansi bounced out racing toward the church door,
"Wait! "
shouted Mrs Anansi, but they were already going with their friends to sit up front.
Mr and Mrs Anansi sat nearer the middle of the church.The inside of the church was so lovely, there was a Christmas tree and Christmas wreaths, and a creche, wherein, baby Jesus laid in the manger; and near the altar, the Christmas wreath with three purple candles, and one pink candle forming a circle with one white candle in the center of the circle. And they all settled in for the celebration. After church friends and realitives wished one another A Merry Christmas, as they left to return to their homes. As soon as Mrs Anansi settled in and buckled her seat belt, she continued signing her carol;
"on the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to meeee...ten lords a-leaping...nine ladies dancing...eight maids a-milking...seven swans a-swimming...six geese a-laying... five gooold rings.........four colly birds...three french hens...two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear treeeeee"

--Meanwhile from Keith Simmonds in Trinidad and Tobago

a jampacked church
worshippers belt out carols...
Christmas morning


--And in Germany as reported by Ralf Bröker

on ice
she finishes
in the middle of her turn



--And in the USA as reported by Adelaide Shaw

strong winds
holiday lights blinking
on and off


Many religious observers ascribe the ten Lords-a-Leaping as symbolic for The Ten Commandments

more about The 12 days of Christmas
Listen to the Carol here
revisit The 2010/11 Celebration Finale here

Poems and images; remain the copyright of the individual contributors


To participate COMMENT or e-mail me


OTHER INTERESTING LINKS
Daisy Voisin - Alegria Alegria Listen

1085

another new year
i take with me the scent
of Christmas memories
--Chrissi Villa

fire crackers...
a whiff of the new year
within festive sounds
--gillena cox

New Year's Day ...
the bunch of balloons
hangs shriveled
--Kirsten Cliff

learning from the past –
New Year resolutions
set in marble
-- Stella Pierides

office wish list...
in a recycled envelope
oddly shaped scraps

that vacation in New York
all the ALF toys were sold out
--gillena cox (first shared at NaHaiWriMo)

The midnight hour…
last year’s resolutions
recycled

Strains of Auld Lang Syne
filling the atmosphere…
a new beginning

Fireworks in sync
with the midnight magic …
the power of hope
--Keith Simmonds


...Where are we Anansi entreated? Wind however had spoken her bit for that night, when she commanded "Come with me Anansi" so to Anansi's now questioning, she gave no reply. It was swooosh, after swooosh after swooosh. As wind blew this way and that carrying poor Anansi in her grasp... (continues tomorrow)
(story of) 'Anansi - An Unusual Experience' © gillena cox 2012

Anansi image © gillena cox 2011


Welcome to the FIFTH YEAR'S celebration of 'The 12 days of Christmas here at Lunch Break' Thank you for celebrating with me
Wishing the love and warmth of family and friends MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!


Lets do this; the 12 days of Christmas at Lunch Break Dec 25 to January 5th; join in the celebration email me or post a COMMENT


revisit 1 Jan 2012
Inspiration for this series The Twelve Days of Christmas Carol
more about Anansi

All poems and images remain the copyright of individual writers

The Twelve Days of Christmas 2011-12

Opening Anansi image © gillena cox 2011
MERRY CHRISTMAS and Welcome to the FOURTH YEAR'S celebration OF 'The 12 days of Christmas at Lunch Break' Thank you for celebrating with me

All the prose (ie. story of) 'Anansi and The Twelve Days of Christmas' © gillena cox 2011

DAY SEVEN DECEMBER 31ST 2011


...just about everyone knows, that Anansi was created on that day when wisdom was given to the animals.
I dont know if it was the first day, I dont know if it was the second day, I dont know if it was the third day, I dont know if it was the fourth day, I dont know if it was the fifth day, I dont know if it was the sixth day, I dont know if it was the seventh day; all i know is that Anansi, sometimes called 'Anansi the spider' was sometimes a man, and sometimes a spider; and as a spider he could spin webs; not the flimsy kind we know and call cobwebs. Oh no. Not he, he spun strong beautiful webs that were apprropriate to his needs in every situation.
"Anansi!" he heard is wife's voice as if in a far far distance; "you seem so preoccupied" Dont bother youself Mrs Anansi," he replied, " i'm alright, i'm just enjoying your beautiful singing." So she sang more loudly now "on the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to meeee...seven swans a-swimming...six geese a-laying... five gooold rings.........four colly birds...three french hens...two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear treeeeee"

--Meanwhile in Trinidad and Tobago as reported by Keith Simmonds

the scent of paint
blowing in the wind...
Christmas carols


--And in Germany as reported by Ralf

playing cards
the other ones
cheat


--And in Canada as reported by Lorraine Renaud

Back together
stretch lines
soften


Many religious observers ascribe the seven swans a-swimming as symbolic for Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit

more aboutThe 12 days of Christmas
Listen to the song here

Poems remain the copyright of the individual writers

To participate COMMENT or e-mail me


OTHER INTERESTING LINKS
Susan Macio - Trini Christmas Is The Best

1089

--image from google


before
the drizzle dissipates -
scent of pink roses
--gillena cox


fog over the roofs –
my new diary’s paper
smell
-- Stella Pierides

sleeping through
the silence of snow
waking with the plough
-- Adelaide

wrapped up
in this Christmas gift, too
his love for me

packing away
the Christmas decorations...
another year without her
--Kirsten Cliff

sweet steelpan sounds
rehearsing day and night
carnival coming
--Keith Simmonds

moral hearts
bar the paths of evil
twelve days
--Magyar

Anansi image © gillena cox 2011

...Well; like i said before, and i'm saying again, it was an unusually rainy December, when, Anansi awoke one morning in an unusually bad mood, or so he thought. Anyways; it was an unusually cold kitchen (in the tropical island of Trinidad) in which cooking oil slowed to an eeire hot stillness in the large family frying pot, or so he thought, into which the radiant Mrs Anansi was dropping evenly formed bits of white flour dough, making fried bakes, or so he thought; for he the unusually grumpy Anansi didn't feel like getting out of bed even to have breakfast, or so he thought. And this is how it all started...THE END
(story of) 'Anansi - An Unusual Experience' © gillena cox 2012

My inspiration for writing 'Anansi - An Unusual Experience' came from reading, and viewing so many movie variations, of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

revisit 5 Jan 2012
Inspiration for this series The Twelve Days of Christmas Carol
more about Anansi

Today ends the FIFTH YEAR'S celebration of 'The 12 days of Christmas here at Lunch Break'
Thank you for celebrating with me 25 December 2012 to 5 January 2013.
Wishing the love and warmth of family and friends.
Till next CHRISTMAS; HAPPY NEW YEAR !!! and "may God bless us All"

All poems and images remain the copyright of individual writers

Many thanks again to my 2012/13 posse:-
Adelaide Shaw, US
Cara Holman, US
Chris Dominiczak, UK
Christine L Villa, US
Diane Mayr, US
Frank Williams, UK
Fred Masarani, US
Gheorghe Postelnicu, Romania
Keith Simmonds, Trinidad and Tobago
Kirsten Cliff, New Zealand
Lorraine Renaud, Canada
Magyar, US
Pat Geyer, US
Ralf Bröker, Germany
Stella Pierides, Germany
Tatjana Debeljacki, Serbia

*•. ¸*•.¸*•.¸*•. *•.¸ ¸.•*¸.•*¸.•*¸.•*¸.•*
*... *...*...**...* HAPPY NEW YEAR*...*...*
Thank you for celebrating with me*...**...*...*
much love.....gillena*...**...*...**...**...*...*
¸.•* ¸.•*¸.•* ¸.•*¸.•* *•.¸*•.¸*•.¸*•.¸*•

1082

...Come with me Anansi" said the unusual Wind, i will take you on a little trip. poor Anansi, he was terrified, yet still, he clutched Wind's giant hand and off they went swooosh. Anansi thought to himself, this must be exactly how great Moon feels in all her waning and waxing shapes, suspended in the night sky; he even thought he saw an unusually bright star in passing.... (continues tomorrow)
(story of) 'Anansi - An Unusual Experience' © gillena cox 2012

Anansi image © gillena cox 2011

hazy moon...
cresting a car roof
Christmas dew
--gillena cox

full moon . . .
picking at leftovers
from the fridge
--Kirsten Cliff

yelping dogs...
bamboo
bussin
[written as spoken by Trinis in relaxed conversations]

yelping dogs...
bamboo
bursting
--gillena cox

about Bamboo bursting read more here


A packed church
of children clutching their toys …
Holy Innocents Day
--Keith Simmonds

I remember horse
hand of the moon embraces
walnut brain
--Tatjana Debeljacki

cemetery visit --
I place a Christmas angel
at his headstone
--Kirsten Cliff





Welcome to the FIFTH YEAR'S celebration of 'The 12 days of Christmas here at Lunch Break' Thank you for celebrating with me
Wishing the love and warmth of family and friends MERRY CHRISTMAS 2012


Lets do this; the 12 days of Christmas at Lunch Break Dec 25 to January 5th; join in the celebration email me or post a COMMENT


revisit 29 Dec 2011
Inspiration for this series The Twelve Days of Christmas Carol
more about Anansi

All poems and images remain the copyright of individual writers